Vegetable slicer



May 26, 1925. 1,539,749 E. H. LEDERER VEGETABLE SLI GER Filed D90. 20, 1924 3 sheets sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Zz/yg/w 1715666701;

' ATTORNEY.

Patented May 26, 1925.

warren S'FA-T Es:

EUGENE H. IIEDEREB,'O-F1 STATE COLIJEGE, PENNSYLVANIA.-

VEGET'ABLE SLICER.

Application filed December 20, 1924-; SerialNb. fi s /s07.

a citizen ofthe United States, residing at" State College, in the county of Center'and' I State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 111 Vegetable Slicers, of which the following lsaspecific'ation;

This invention relates to a vegetable slicer,

1% designed primarily for the slicing of potatoes,.butitis to be'underst'ood that a machine in accordance with this invention is adapted for use for slicing any class of vegetables or fruits for which it is found applicable, and the inventionhas for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, a machine of the class referred to with means for expeditiously and uniformly slicing the article acted upon in lattice-like corrugatedor other forms. I

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in-a manner as hereinafter set forth, a slicing machine which is comparatively simple in-its construction and arrangement, 15 strong, durable, compact, thoroughly eliicient in its use, readily assembled, conveniently operated, and comparatively inexpensive to set up.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement 4') Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4- is a section on line 4-4, Figure .2.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a set of 50 cams.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in section illustrating a knife edge.

As illustrated, the machine is mounted upon and secured to a concrete base 1, and

55 the machine includes a hollow supporting parts standard 2 p'rovided at its bottomvvith' apertu redilugs 3, through whichextendhold-fast devices 4- embedded or anchored in: the base 1, whereby thestandard 2 isfixedly secured in position. The standard 2' is of tapered contour and gradually decreases in' diameter from its lower towards its upper end, and intermediate the ends ther eof i's' provided with a series of spaced laterally extending integralsupporting members 5', upon'which is adapted to be mounted a recept'acle'or receptacles for r-eceitingthe slices of the veg'e table or fruit; The upper end of the standard 2; at a aoint reniovedfrom'its top edge, is formed with an interiorly arranged" an nular shoulder 6" and below the" shoulder with'acylindrical opening? havingjintegrali with the w'all thereof a 'lengtliwise extending rib 8 which constitutes a' key.

Extendinginto the opening"? and pro: jecting a substantial distance above the" standard 2, is'a vertically"disposed shaft 9'; provided at a point between its transverse center and its lower end with an inte ral collar 10 seating on the Shoulder 6 That portion ofthe' shaft Qlielow the collarfis provided with a key-Way or groove into which extends the rib or key 8, whereby the shaft 9*is prevented from shifting;re'la' tive to the standard2; That}portion'of the shaft 9, above" the collar 10, is of greater length than thatportionarranged below tlie" collar 9, and the-said upper portion'of the" shaft 9 is indicated at 11", and said part 1 1 has reduced upper portions 12 and 13'," the latt er Being "ofless diameter than the former. and the said reduced portion 12 forms the part 11 with a peripheral shoulder 14. The" reducedportion 13 is peripherally threaded. Surrounding the part 11; of the shaft 9'} isa bearingsleeve"15which abuts against a" bearing disk 16 seated on th'e collar 10'} Mbunted'on' the sleeve 15is thehub 17 of arevolvable knifecarrier 18. The hubl"? positioned against and fixedly securedtby the hold-fast devices 19, to the} disk' 16,- whereby the latter will be bodily carried with the hub 17 during'the operation'of the' knife ca'rrier'18. I I

The knife carrier 18 not only includes the hub 17 and disk 16 but furthermore includes a series of spokes 20, which areinte'gralf with the lower portion'of' the'huh 17"and' terminate in' the inner rim 21 of" knife support and which comprises the innerriin' lilo side of the rim 22.

21, an outer rim 22, and a web 23. The rim 21, as well as the rim-22, is in the'form of a ring standing on edge, and the web 23 consists of a flat sectional annulus and with the sections thereof spaced from each other to provide discharge passages 24 for the slices. The web 23 is integral with the opposed faces of the rims 21, 22, and the upper face of the web 23 is positioned a substantial distance below the top edges of said rims.

The knife carrier 18 further includes a cam support 25 in the form of a flat annulus and which is integral with the outer The perimeter of the lower face of the cam support 25 is beveled and toothed to provide a circular rack 26 which is engaged by a beveled gear 27, for the purpose of revolving the knife carrier. The gearing 27 is carried by a shaft 28 operated from a suitable means not shown.

The knife carrier is illustrated as provided with four knives or cutters arranged in circular form, but it is to be understood that the number of. knives or cutters will correspond to the number of the vegetable hoppers to be hereinafter referred to. Each of the knives 01' cutters is concentric in form and consists of a shank 29, provided at one end with an upstanding portion 30 formed with a fluted cutting edge 31. That endof the knife or cutter, formed with the fluted cutting edge 31, is beveled throughout as indicated at 32, and, spaced from the non-cutting end 33 of the adjacent shank 29, see Figure 3, and the spacing of the knives or cutters in the manner as stated, forms a passage 34 for the slices, and the passages 34 register with the openings 24. The knives or cuttersare mounted on the upper face of the web 23, and are secured in spaced relation, by the holdfast' devices 35 which engage with the weh23.

Secured to the upper face of the support 25 is two pair of high cams and two pair of low cams, and said cams are employed for intermittently revolving the vegetable hoppers during the operation of the knife carrierf The high cams are alternately disposed with respect to the low cams on the support 25. As the high cams, are constructed similar to the low cams, the description of a pair of high cams will apply to a pair of low cams. One cam of each pair of high cams, as well as one cam of each pair of low cams, consists of a,

narrow block 36, having its inner edge extending at opposite inclinations from the center thereof as indicated at 37, 38, and one end of the block 36 is tapered as at 3S)- The other cam of each pair of high cams.

as wellas the other cam of each pair of low cams, consists of a narrow block 40 having its lnner edge extending at opposlte in relation and with their inclined edges opposing each other; Each of the cams is concentric in contour and provided with openings for the passage of hold-fast devices to fixedly secure the cams into position.

As shown, two pair of high cams are employed, and two pair of low cams, and the .lowcams are alternately disposed with re spect to the highcalns. Each pair of cams consists of an outer and an inner cam, but the outer cams of each pair of high cams is of materially greater height than the inner cam of each pair of high cams. The

height of the low cams are the same.

With reference to Figure 4, the outer cam of the pair of high cams is indicated at 44, and secured to the top thereof, by the sol hold-fast devices 44, 45, is an inwardly 1 extending plate 46, having secured to the lower face thereof, by the hold-fast devices 47, the inner cam 48 of the pair of high cams.

With reference/to Figure 2, the outer cam of a low pair of cams is indicated at 48, and which is secured, by the hold-fast device-s49, to a plate 50 mounted on the support 25, and the inner cam of the pair of low cams is indicated at 51, and whichis secured to the plate 50 by the hold-fast devices 52. The hold-fast devices 49- and 52 fixedly secure the plate50 in position. The cams 48 and 51 are arranged in spaced relation.

Keyed, as at 5 3, to the portion 12, of the shaft 9, is a collar 54, maintained against the part 11', of the shaft 9, bya clamping nut engaging with the part 13 of the shaft 9. A washer 56 is interposed between the nut 55 and the collar 54. Formed integral with the collar 54 is a series of ra dially extending suspension arms 57, and each of which terminates at its outer end in a cylindrical holder 58, having the upper portion of its inner face flaring as at 59, and furtherprovided with a shoulder 60 at the lower terminus of said flaring porwith four suspension arms 57, and each of which is adapted to support a vegetable hopper, formed of astationary upper section and a revolvable lower section. It is obvious that the number of hoppers can be increased or diminished, but as before stated, the number of knives orocutters will correspond to the number of hoppers.

Each of said hoppers consists of a stameeyme tiouary upper section: 62* and a re-volrable lower section The section 62" has a coin tracted low-er portion (33, of tapering con tour, which-snugly fits the portion 59 of the holder 58, and sad lower portion (33' of the section 2 iSllEiQClly secured by't-he holdfast devices (lite th holder 58; The lowerseetion 63 is cylindrical throughout, and has its-inner face forming a continuation of the inner face of the section 62. SOGLlBLl iYO the face of the section 33, an the upper portion thereof, through the medium of a seri s of rivets 6-3, is bearing sleeve 66, lied to the lower edge of theholder 58 is a flat ring 6?, having itsbody portion of a width-to extend fromthe outer face of the holder to the outer face of the section63. The (:8 is seeured to the holder 58 by the hold-fast devices 68 and acts not only as a support for the sleeve 68', but; also couples the section 63 to the section 62, so that said'section (Si-lean be revolved relatively to the section 62, The height of the section 63 is such as to extend in close proxin'iityte the top edges of the rims 21', 22', of the knife support.

Secured against theout'er face'ofi the section 63, at the lower portion: thereof,by the rivetstii), isa collar TO provided with a1 set radially ext nding high arms- Tlz and a set of radially extending lowarms '22.. The arms 4 1 are arranged above the arms 72', and each of said arms 71 carries anactuating roller 73, and each. of the arms 7-2 car ries an actuating roller 74.. The rollers'73, which ma 5 he termed a high? set of rolls ers, engage the high cams for the purpose of revolving the section 63 and the rollers 74, which may be termed alow set of rollers, engage the-low cams for: the; purpose of revolving tl'iesection 63..

By reference to F' the hoppers are indicatd; at 'i\,il, C and: D; and the construction and arrangement of the section (3 with respect to the knife carrier is such that when a roller 73 of hoppeu A is ed by a pair of high cams, section: 63 of such ho 'iper will be revolved and shift the article to acted on by the knife or cutter, and after such action, roller 74 will he engagedby a low pair of cams, and which will also shift section 63' of hopper A; The sections (33 of the hoppers are alternately revolved by the high and low camsandby. this arrangement, it is obvious that theslices will be of lattice-like forn'n. due to the fact that the cutting edges of the knives or cutters are corrugatethand the article will be acted on sothat the pair of cutters formingga slice will operate in opposite directions on and with espect to the article. The position of the knives or cutters do notichange; but the position of the article orvegetable does, due to the fact that. after a cut the section (3?, is shifted a part ola revolution,

re 2. of the drawings,

say from forty-liveto ninety degrees, bodily r carryin the article therewith;

lirnanged within each: oh the sections 63 of the hoppers is air upper and a lowerset of clamps for the article or. vegetable, and the lower set'will retain the article on vege table in position to be acted upon by a knife or cutter, and such article will be forced downwardly by the weight of the superposed articles or vegetables. WVith reference to Figure 4, the upper set of clamps is-indicatedat 75 and the lower set of clamps at' 76'. Each oftheclampsof the upper and lower sets consists" ofaspring controlled arm 77, hinged at its-upper end toa keeper78-. The controlling springs for each ofthe clamps is indicated at 7-9; and one end of thespring is anchored in the i section 63 and the other end is secured to the lower portion of an arm, and the springs of each set maintain'the arms ofeach set in a position to extend toward eachother at an inclination. in theupper portion of the lower setof clamps, and the lower set of clamps extend at a point in proximity tothe lower edge of'thesection 63; The article or vegetable to be operated on passes down between the sets=of clamps and the article is forced from the upper'set tothe lower'set by the weight if the articles bearing thereon. The lower set of clamps, as before stated, maintains the article in a position to be acted upon by the knives or cutters during the revolving of the knife carrier;

The construction and arrangement of the machine will provide means whereby the slices, after the first slice, will beof latticelike form, and the-sets of clamps are so arranged within the-lower sections of'the hoppers to provide for the positioning of a sin-- glearticle or vegetable to'be sliieed, and it is obvious that after the article hasbeeu sliced, the slices will be discharged" through the. openingsQinto asuitable receptacle or receptacles carried by the supports 5. The hoppers are filled. \vitlnby way of example, potatoes, and the weight of the upper p0- ta-toes acting on the-lower ones will provide for the successive feed of the-potatotowards the slicing mechanism. The springs 79 are of sufficient strength to maintain the clamp armsinthe neeessarypositionto provide for the properfeed of the potato; If desired, to-insurethe necessary feed, after a number oil thepotatoesihave'been sliced, the hoppers may'hawe arranged therein followers of the desired: weight to insure the feed, The ar rangement of the cams with respect to the actuating rollers isto insurethe' shifting of the sections 63 intermittently, at predetermined times, after aslice: from the: article has been: madeby the cutter, and when the sections 6?, are shifted, the potatoes within the sets of clamps are carried bodily there- The' upper set of clamps extend.

with. Although as before stated, the machine is'illustrated with fourhoppers and a correspondingnumber of cutters, yet it is to be understood that such number can be increased or diminished.

struction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim is: 1. A slicing machine for the purpose set forth, comprising a revolvable carrier provided with a plurality of cutters, a plurality of article receiving hoppers suspended over said carrier and each including a stationary upper and a shiftable lower section, and coacting means mounted on said shiftable sections and said carrier for intermittently revolving said shiftable sections during the operation of the carrier to provide for the slicing of an article in lattice-like form.

2. A slicing machine for the purpose set forth, comprising a revolvable carrier provided with a plurality of cutters, a plurality of article receiving hoppers suspended over said carrier and each includinga stationary upper and a shiftable lower section, coacting means mounted on said shiftable sections and said carrier for intermittently revolving said shiftable sections during the operation of the carrier to provide for the slicing of an article in lattice-like form, and means within each of said shiftable sections for releasably holding the article acted upon by the cutters.

3. A slicing machine for the purpose set forth, comprising a revolvable carrier provided with a plurality of cutters, a plurality of article receiving hoppers suspended over said carrier and each including a stationary upper and a shiftable lower section, coacting means mounted on said shiftable sections and. said carrier for intermittently revolving said shiftable sections during the operation of the carrier to provide for the slicing of an article in lattice-like form, andsaid carrier provided with means for the discharge of the slices.

4:. A slicing machine for the purpose set forth, comprising a revolvable carrier provided with a. plurality of cutters and high and low cams positioned exteriorly of the cutters, a plurality of article receiving hoppers suspended over said carrier and each including a stationary and a shaftable lower section, and means carried by said shiftable sections and engageable with said cams for intermittently revolving said shiftable-sections during the operation of the carrier.

5. A slicing machine for the purpose set forth, comprising a revolvable carrier provided with a plurality of cutters and high and low cams positioned exteriorly of the cutters, a plurality of article receiving hop- 7 I and means within said shiftable sections for. releasably holding an article "to be sliced by the cutters.

6. A slicing machine for the purpose set forth, comprising an intermittently revolvable article holder and including means for releasably holding an article to be sliced in the path of a cutter, a revolvable carrier arranged below said means and provided with a cutter acting'ion the article for slicing it, and coacting means carried by the holder and said carrier for intermittently revolving said holder during theoperation of the carrier.

7. A slicing machine for the'purpose set forth, comprising an intermittently revolvable article holder and including means for releasably holding an article to be sliced in the path of a cutter, a'revolvable carrier arranged below said means and provided with a cutter acting on the article for slicing it, coacting means carried by the holder. and said carrier for intermittently revolving said holder during the operation'of the carrier, said carrier provided with discharge openings for the passage of the shoes, and said openings arranged in proximity to said cutters. I

j 8. A. slicing machine for the purpose set forth, comprising a revolvable carrier provided with a plurality of cutters, a plurality of article receiving hoppers suspended over said carrier and each including a stationary upper section and a shiftable lower section swivelly connected to the lower portion of the upper section, and coacting means mounted on said shiftable sections and carrier forintermittently revolving said shiftable sections during the operation of the carrier.

9. A slicing machine for the purpose set forth, comprising a revolvable carrier provided with a plurality of cutters, a plurality of article receiving hoppers suspended over said carrier and each including a stationary upper section and a shiftable lower section swivelly connected to the lower portion of on said shiftable sections and carrier for intermittently revolving said shiftable sections during the operation of the carrier,

' and means within said shiftable sections for releasablyholding an article to be sliced by the cutters.

10. A slicing machine for the purpose set forth, comprising a revolvable carrier proyided with a plurality of cutters and high and lOW earns positioned exteriorly of the cutters, a plurality of article receiving hoppers suspended over said carrier and each including a stationary and a shiftable lower,

section, means carried by said shiftable sections and engageable with sand cams for and said carrier provided with means for 10 the discharge of the slices.

In testimony whereof, I affix mysignature hereto.

EUGENE H. LEDERER. 

